Abstract: A unitary adhesive retractor is provided for supporting a patient's excess/redundant tissue to maintain the excess/redundant tissue away from an incision or other existing wound. The retractor defines a top-to-bottom length and a side-to-side width greater than one-half the top-to-bottom length, and comprises a stretchable, air-permeable fabric layer adherable directly to the excess/redundant tissue by means of a silicone gel adhesive which coats at least a substantial portion of a bottom surface of the fabric layer. When the retractor is placed in tension upon application of the retractor to a patient, due to the weight of the excess/redundant tissue, forces generated by the weight of the excess/redundant tissue are transferred through the gel adhesive to the fabric layer, such that the gel substantially protects the dermis of the patient from sheer forces generated by the weight of the excess/redundant tissue being evenly distributed to the dermis of the patient.

Abstract: A wound care device comprises a cover layer having formed from a stretchable material which has an elastic memory such that upon stretching the first layer will tend to retract to an at-rest position; a layer of adherent on the bottom surface of the cover layer; and a removable release liner removably adhered to the adherent. In use, the wound care device is applied over or adjacent the wound in a stretched/elongated condition extending to be adhered to skin beyond the margins of the wound. The wound care device retracts under its elastic member along lines of tension towards a focal point of lines of tension, thereby drawing the margins of the wound together to stabilize and compress the skin about the wound.

Abstract: An adhesive convertible tissue stabilizer is provided which can be applied preoperatively to a patient to retract tissue to facilitate a medical/surgical procedure. As a perioperative device, the convertible device accepts most, if not all, surgical preparations, enabling the creation of a sterile field. At the completion of the procedure, the convertible device is converted from a perioperative device to a post-operative device by removal of a layer of the convertible device.

Abstract: A medical cover is comprised of a stretchable ply which is effectively adhered, at least in part, to the patient during use of the cover. The cover comprises a cover body defining top and bottom edges and first and second side edges, an inflatable zone defined by said body and which is defined by a border, at least one inflation port in the inflatable zone, and at least one instrument access port through which surgical instruments can be passed. The inflation port is connectable to a source of a sterile pressurized lifting fluid or gas, such as air or nitrogen. In use, the medical cover forms a dome which defines an enclosed aseptic zone in which the atmosphere can be controlled.

Abstract: A unitary adhesive retractor is provided for supporting a patient's excess/redundant tissue to maintain the excess/redundant tissue away from an incision or other existing wound. The retractor defines a top-to-bottom length and a side-to-side width greater than one-half the top-to-bottom length, and comprises a stretchable, air-permeable fabric layer adherable directly to the excess/redundant tissue by means of a silicone gel adhesive which coats at least a substantial portion of a bottom surface of the fabric layer. When the retractor is placed in tension upon application of the retractor to a patient, due to the weight of the excess/redundant tissue, forces generated by the weight of the excess/redundant tissue are transferred through the gel adhesive to the fabric layer, such that the gel substantially protects the dermis of the patient from sheer forces generated by the weight of the excess/redundant tissue being evenly distributed to the dermis of the patient.

Abstract: A multi-ply adhesive retraction device is provided which comprises a top layer, a backing layer and a stretchable middle layer between the top and backing layers. A middle-ply adhesive applied to substantially the entirety of the middle layer bottom surface to removably adhere the backing layer to the middle layer bottom surface. The device includes at least one bottom ply tab integral with the device which is operable to remove at least a portion of the backing layer from the middle layer to expose the adhesive of the middle layer. Additionally, the device includes at least one top ply tab which is operable to remove the top layer from the middle layer. The device can be applied pre-operatively, and then the top layer can be removed post-operatively to remain in place during healing of, for example, an incision site.

Abstract: An adhesive therapeutic cover comprises at least one lift device and a single sheet of at least a two-ply material that includes a cover material with an adhesive on a bottom surface and a backing layer. The cover material defines at least one opening therethrough or at least one opening area which is removable after application of the cover material to a patient to form an opening through the cover material. The at least one lift device comprises a connector adhered or adherable to the cover material in alignment with the opening or opening area. The connector can be connected to a pressurized source of a flowable lifting agent, to urge the flowable lifting agent through the connector and the opening to separate the cover material from patient skin. Sensors can be provided to monitor and/or control the flow of lifting agent through the lifting device during removal of the cover from the patient.

Abstract: A wound exposure device is disclosed that can be applied to a patient having excessive or redundant tissue (i.e., a panniculus) to retain the excessive or redundant tissue away from (off of) a wound to allow air so that the excessive or redundant tissue will not cover the wound while the wound is healing. The wound exposure device is wearable and highly conformable when applied to a patient to support/hold/retract redundant and/or excessive tissue off or away from a wound site for extended periods of time. The ability to wear the wound exposure device for extended periods of time facilitates better healing of wounds which would otherwise be covered by the redundant flesh.

Abstract: A medical drape comprises at least a bottom ply in the form of a release liner, a middle ply which is adhered to the patient during use of the drape, and a top ply covering the middle ply. The middle ply having an adhesive applied to a bottom surface thereof to removably adhere the bottom ply to the middle ply. The drape comprises a drape body defining top and bottom edges and first and second side edges; a first liner release tab and a carrier lift tab, both tabs being at an edge of the body. The first liner release tab is operable to remove the bottom ply from the middle ply to expose the adhesive of the middle ply. The carrier lift tab is operable to remove the top ply from the middle ply after application of the middle ply to a patient.

Abstract: A die-cuttable retractor/stabilizer for repositioning and stabilizing excessive and/or redundant tissue comprises a top layer and a backing layer. An adhesive on the top layer is exposed when the backing layer is separated from the top layer to enable the top layer to be applied to a surface. The retractor/stabilizer comprises a body having a top edge, side edges and a bottom edge. A tab portion is associated with the removable panel, such that the backing layer remains with the tab portion and the tab portion can be used to remove at least a portion of the backing layer from the retractor/stabilizer body. The retractor/stabilizer additionally includes at least one protected grasping/holding area located at an edge or corner of said retractor/holding area as the backing layer is removed from the body to provide a protected holding area once the backing layer has been removed from the body.

Abstract: A medical drape comprises at least a bottom ply in the form of a release liner, a middle ply which is adhered to the patient during use of the drape, and a top ply covering the middle ply. The middle ply having an adhesive applied to a bottom surface thereof to removably adhere the bottom ply to the middle ply. The drape comprises a drape body defining top and bottom edges and first and second side edges; a first liner release tab and a carrier lift tab, both tabs being at an edge of the body. The first liner release tab is operable to remove the bottom ply from the middle ply to expose the adhesive of the middle ply. The carrier lift tab is operable to remove the top ply from the middle ply after application of the middle ply to a patient.

Abstract: A multi-ply adhesive retraction device is provided which comprises a top layer, a backing layer and a stretchable middle layer between the top and backing layers. A middle-ply adhesive applied to substantially the entirety of the middle layer bottom surface to removably adhere the backing layer to the middle layer bottom surface. The device includes at least one bottom ply tab integral with the device which is operable to remove at least a portion of the backing layer from the middle layer to expose the adhesive of the middle layer. Additionally, the device includes at least one top ply tab which is operable to remove the top layer from the middle layer. The device can be applied pre-operatively, and then the top layer can be removed post-operatively to remain in place during healing of, for example, an incision site.

Abstract: A die-cuttable retractor/stabilizer for repositioning and stabilizing excessive and/or redundant tissue comprises a top layer and a backing layer. An adhesive on the top layer is exposed when the backing layer is separated from the top layer to enable the top layer to be applied to a surface. The retractor/stabilizer comprises a body having a top edge, side edges and a bottom edge. A tab portion is associated with the removable panel, such that the backing layer remains with the tab portion and the tab portion can be used to remove at least a portion of the backing layer from the retractor/stabilizer body. The retractor/stabilizer additionally includes at least one protected grasping/holding area located at an edge or corner of said retractor/holding area as the backing layer is removed from the body to provide a protected holding area once the backing layer has been removed from the body.

Abstract: An adhesive therapeutic cover comprises at least one lift device and a single sheet of at least a two-ply material that includes a cover material with an adhesive on a bottom surface and a backing layer. The cover material defines at least one opening therethrough or at least one opening area which is removable after application of the cover material to a patient to form an opening through the cover material. The at least one lift device comprises a connector adhered or adherable to the cover material in alignment with the opening or opening area. The connector can be connected to a pressurized source of a flowable lifting agent, to urge the flowable lifting agent through the connector and the opening to separate the cover material from patient skin. Sensors can be provided to monitor and/or control the flow of lifting agent through the lifting device during removal of the cover from the patient.

Abstract: A method for retracting/stabilizing excessive and/or redundant tissue or for compressing redundant tissue including adhering a tension member made of a sheet of material having a surface coated with an adhesive which will adhere to the dermis of a patient to a patient. The step of adhering the tension member to the patient includes: adhering a first portion of the tension member to redundant and/or excessive tissue of the patient and adhering a second portion of the tension member to an anchor point on the patient which is spaced from the redundant and/or excessive tissue such that the tension member is adhered to the patient substantially over the entire surface area of the tension member. When the tension member is applied to the patient, the excessive or redundant tissue pulls against the second portion of the tension member thereby placing the tension member in tension.

Abstract: A wound exposure device is disclosed that can be applied to a patient having excessive or redundant tissue (i.e., a panniculus) to retain the excessive or redundant tissue away from (off of) a wound to allow air so that the excessive or redundant tissue will not cover the wound while the wound is healing. The wound exposure device is wearable and highly conformable when applied to a patient to support/hold/retract redundant and/or excessive tissue off or away from a wound site for extended periods of time. The ability to wear the wound exposure device for extended periods of time facilitates better healing of wounds which would otherwise be covered by the redundant flesh.

Abstract: A die-cuttable retractor/stabilizer comprising a top layer having an adhesive applied one side thereof and a backing layer which covers the adhesive and which is removable from the top. The retractor/stabilizer includes a dividing cut in the backing layer which extends the width of the backing layer to separate the backing layer into an upper panel and a lower panel. A first lower panel back cut in the backing layer lower panel extends from the bottom edge of the backing layer to a point proximate the dividing cut to divide the lower panel in to at least a lower panel positioning portion and a lower panel second portion.

Abstract: A die-cuttable retractor/stabilizer comprising a top layer having an adhesive applied one side thereof and a backing layer which covers the adhesive and which is removable from the top. The retractor/stabilizer includes a dividing cut in the backing layer which extends the width of the backing layer to separate the backing layer into an upper panel and a lower panel. A first lower panel back cut in the backing layer lower panel extends from the bottom edge of the backing layer to a point proximate the dividing cut to divide the lower panel in to at least a lower panel positioning portion and a lower panel second portion.

Abstract: A method for retracting/stabilizing excessive and/or redundant tissue or for compressing redundant tissue comprising adhering a tension member made of a sheet of material having a surface coated with an adhesive which will adhere to the dermis of a patient to a patient. The step of adhering the tension member to the patient includes: adhering a first portion of the tension member to redundant and/or excessive tissue of the patient and adhering a second portion of the tension member to an anchor point on the patient which is spaced from the redundant and/or excessive tissue such that the tension member is adhered to the patient substantially over the entire surface area of the tension member. When the tension member is applied to the patient, the excessive or redundant tissue pulls against the second portion of the tension member thereby placing the tension member in tension.